Shackle, chain coupling, or the like



J. McLAUGHLIN. SHACKLE, CHAIN COUPLlNG, OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION-FIL-YEDMAR. 10. 1921'.

Patented June 20, 1922.

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SHAGKLE, CHAIN COUPLING, OR THE'LIKE.

i Application filed March 10, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES McLAUoHLIN, a subject of His Majesty the King of England, and resident of Pontardulais, in the county of Glamorgan, Principality or" Wales, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating toShackles, Chain Couplings, or the like (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain, February 17, 1919, Patent No. 142,9d2), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shakles, chain couplings or the like and more particularly to improvements in shakles employed on colliery tramways or the like of the type wherein a pin is rotatably mounted and adapted tomove vertically in eyes formed in 'the outer ends of a substantially U-shaped member, a coiled spring being arranged between the head of the pin and one of the ends of the member to normally retain a projection on the pin in a recess cut in one of the eyes of the said member, a slot being provided at an angle to the recess in the said eye so that the pin, when turned, can be raised until its extension engages in another recess cut in the other eye to enable theshackle to be uncoupled.

The object of this invention is to provide means to enclose the spring of shakles of the above type so as to'eliminate the danger of workmen catching their fingers therein and also to prevent the entrance of foreign matter such as coal or stones between the coils of the spring.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in movably mounting on the pin of a shackle of the above described type a sleeve slidable in a handle or knob formed on the head of the pin and arranging the coiled spring within the handle or knob so as to prevent the entrance of dirt to the said spring.

The invention will now be described with references to the accomip anyi'ngs, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of shackle constructed according to the in vention.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the shackle in open position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is an end view;

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure a of a slightly modified construction, and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1922.

Serial No. {151,283.

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 3 of the modification shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figures 1 to 41- the shackle comprises a substantially U-shaped member a, to which is attached the links I) of a coupling chain, and a pin 0 adapted to move vertically in eyes (Z formed in the outer ends of the U-shaped member a. The pin 0 is formed or provided at or adjacent to its lower end with a stop or projection e which is normally adapted to, lie in a slot or recess 7 cut in the underside of the lower eye of the shackle member a. A vertical groove 9 is also cut or formed preferably in the opposite side of the eye at through which groove 9 the stop or projection e is passed when the pin 0 is raised to release the shackle. The head of the pin 0 is formed or provided with a handle or knob h and within this knob h and slidably mounted on the pin 0 is a flanged sleeve 11. VlVithin the sleeve 6 and surrounding the pin 0 is arranged a coiled spring j which is adapted to engage at one end against an inner flange 70 on the sleeve 2' and at its other end against the base of a recess Z formedbetween the pin 0 and the knob h. The sleeve 2' is formed with a slit or hole on to enable the spring j to be lubricated when desired, or oil to be contained within the sleeve i to lubricate the pin 0 when the knob 72, is forced down to lock the shackle. A slot or recess n is cut in the underside of the upper eye cl of the U-shaped member a for the reception of the stop or projection e on the pin 0 when the said pin 0 is raised to release the shackle, as shown in Figure 2.

In operation and when it is desired to couple up 'colliery trams or the like, the knob h is turned and raised to turn and raise the pin 0 connected thereto, in the U-shaped member a until the projection e on the pin 0 is disposed in the slot or recess it formed in the upper eye a? of the shackle a. The shackle a can now be moved into position with the eye plate or link 5 on the colliery tram and coupled up by allowing the pin 0 to drop. The projection e on the lower end of the pin 0 will pass through the slot or groove 9 cut in the lower eye of the U- shaped member a. The knob 71, is then pressed down to compress the spring j and rotated through an angle of 180 until the projection e on the pin a is adjacent to the recess f cut in the opposite side of the lower eye d. When the knob h is released the pin 0 will be raised by its spring j and the pro jection e on the pin 0 will engage in the said recess f to lock the shackle.

In a modified construction as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the flanged sleeve 11 is formed or provided with a vertical rib or projection 0 which is adapted to engage in a socket or recess 7) formed in a vertical enlargement g on the side of the knob h.

This socket 2) is arranged on the opposite between the head of the pin and one 01": the

ends of the member a projection 011 the pin, slots in the said eyes adapted to receive the projection, a sleeve movably mounted on the pin and slidable in a handle formed on the head of the pin, the coiled spring being arranged within said handle, for the purposes described.

2. A shackle comprising a pin provided with a head and rotatably mounted and movable vertically in eyes formed in the ends of a substantially U-shaped member, a circular flange depending from the head, a sleeve slidably mounted within the circular flange and on the pin and provided with a flange resting on one of the arms of the U-shaped member, a coiled spring on the pin having abutting relation with the head of the pin and the flange on the sleeve, and a lug on the end of the'pin adapted to be seated in slots formed in the ends of the U-shaped members.

3. A shackle comprising a pin provided with a head and rotatably mounted and movable vertically in eyes formed in the ends of a substantially U-shaped member, a coiled spring on the pin tending to force the pin outwardly from the eyes, a lug on the end of the pin adapted to be seated in slots formed in the ends of the U-shaped member, the spring maintaining the lug in the slot of an arm 01 the U-shaped member, said armbeing provided with a groove through which the lug slides when the pin is moved to position the lug in the slot of the other arm and. to open the shackle.

l. In a shackle as claimed in claim 1, the provision of co-operating guides on the said sleeve and handle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A shackle comprising a pin provided with a head and rotatably mounted and movable vertically in eyes formed in the ends of a substantially U-shaped member, asleeve slid-ably mounted within the head and provided with a flange, a coiled spring on the pin having abutting relation with the head and flange, complementary means on the head and sleeve to cause rotation of the sleeve with the head, a lug on the end of the pin adapted to be seated in slots in the arms of the U-shaped member, one of said slots adapted to be engaged by the lug for locking the pin in position and diametrically disposed to the complementary means, the normal position of the complementary means indicating the seating position of the lug in said slot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

JAMES MoLAUGrHLIN. 

